Gaming PC companies OT
 

Sorry to post off topic, but I was wondering if anyone here has had experience with or purchased a gaming pc from online companies such as Alienware, ABS, Pugetsystems, etc. and what your opinions were. It's difficult to get consumer feedback about any of them online because they all have their own "testimonials" of satisfaction and they all bash their competition. Thanks in advance, B :cool:

I have an Alienware Hivemind that I purchased in 2002, and it's great.

Had one problem with the Creative speakers a couple months after getting it, but they replaced them with no problem.

Other than that, all I've done to it is add 512 of memory and upgrade the video card earlier this year.

And I purchased it directly from Alienware, not through Best Buy.

I have no problem recommending them. The PC has been great. Unlike my previous Gateway, which went through 2 hard drives, a power supply, and a CD ROM in less than 3 years.

Would Tom's Hardware have reviews on Alienware and the like? I just recently discovered Tom's Hardware, and that's the place to go to learn about hardware.

I never buy prebuilt systems myself, but I've heard that Alienware makes good products.

Yup, building them is fun :yep:

I second that. :yep:

I got mine from ABS about four years ago. Had a motherboard go bad and they replaced it (along with the HD). Had to put up with countless calls to their tech support before they finally decided on the problem, but I guess it's fair to let them try to fix it over the phone before they recall it. I'd buy from them again.

Only heard good things about Alienware, but really consider building it you'll have much more fun learning/building. It's really not that hard and in the end you can save a significant % of money.

Best of all by building your computer yourself you get exactly what you want. No more and certainly no less.

I too have an Alienware... and I build/fix/repair puters for a living..
If you are serious about getting a high end system you wont actually save all that much $ buy building it yourself.. Alienware uses very high end components in their systems.. and they put them together very nicely.. I think that the amount of money you would save buy aquiring and assembling the components yourself is consumed buy the searching for and running about to get the components.. but then again I am much older than I used to be and am willing to pay significant $$ in order to NOT have to dash about looking for parts..
I have no problem recommending Alienware to anyone looking for a high end system

I actually find it sorta fun hunting for the right prices. Here in Ontario we only really have 3 decent vendors which are all within 1hr of my house. Which actually make the process of building a lot easier as I have narrowed them down to one reliable and cheap vendor.

www.infonec.com I suppose for you yanks it would be the equivalent of newegg.

Another bonus of building yourself is that you can buy in phases, ie buy the mouse/keyboard/speakers/monitor and retrofit them to your current system while you save more $.

Yes saving $ is of greater significance when the parts you are getting are of shoddy quality. Certainly Alienware provides high quality parts and all. I just feel so much better putting it all together myself. Just like changing the oil, or rotating the tires, no one touches my baby :lol:

One last thing Bonfleck, if you are willing to build I'm certain this group of highly motivated computer enthusiasts can help you.